Kedar Nath & Badri Narayan - Swami Vivekananda

44 KEDAR NATO AND BADRI NARAYANrobe gleams and blistens in all directions. There isno begging, for the sadcibratas supply all the wants ofmonastic visitors. But there is a world of enthusiasm,and still the tradition goes amongst them that KedarNath is a place of good omen for sannyasis, for herecame Sankaracharya and falling into samadhi died!It was the second day of our stay when an oldman who had been seriously ill for many months,reached the place and made his darsana. He hadended his journey, and hastened to fulfil his vowwithin the hour. But scarcely had he done so, barelyhad he ceased from prayer, not yet was the raptureof achievement abated, when the battle was declaredfor him to be finished, and in the bright morningair, with long sighing breaths, his soul went forth.Such is the benediction with which the Lord ofMountains lays His hand upon His own !